Virus update
Positive news comes despite arrival of new virus variant
Area COVID metrics are falling despite arrival of new virus variant.
The arrival of spring on Saturday brought with it some promising news from the state’s battle against coronavirus, even as the Brazilian variant of the disease was detected in a New York City resident.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office announced Saturday that a number of COVID -19 related hospitalization metrics across New
York state are the lowest they’ve been since early December. Meanwhile the state is touting more than 5 million New Yorkers have now had at least one vaccine.
In a news release, the governor said hospitalizations have dropped to 4,513, the lowest since Dec. 5, while ICU patients have dropped to 909, the lowest since Dec. 6, and intubations were at 575, the lowest since Dec 13.
“New Yorkers have fought through this pandemic by being vigilant, and even though the vaccine is here, we need everyone to continue being smart until we’re able to vaccinate everyone who wants it,” Cuomo said in a statement.
By late Saturday afternoon, Cuomo’s office announced that the first case of the Brazilian variant of COVID-19 has been detected in the state.
COVID -19 P.1, commonly known as the Brazilian variant, was identified by scientists at New York City’s Mount Sinai hospital and verified by the state Health Department’s Wadsworth Center Laboratories.
““Our providers have been working day and night to administer shots, and we can see the results of their tireless efforts. One in every four New Yorkers has now received at least one dose of the vaccine, and we are continuing our outreach across the state to address hesitancy and accessibility so that we can continue getting shots into people’s arms as quickly as possible.” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo
The patient is a Brooklyn resident in their 90s with no travel history. The state is working with the New York City Health Department to get more information about the patient and potential contacts.
“The detection of the Brazilian variant here in New York further underscores the importance of taking all the appropriate steps to continue to protect your health,” Cuomo said.
“This is a race between the vaccine and the variants,” added state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker.
The P.1 variant virus was first detected in the United States at the end of January.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently reporting 48 cases nationwide.
It has been designated a “variant of concern,” which means there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease and the potential for reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines.
In announcing that the state’s number of vaccinations exceeds 5 million, Cuomo noted that the total included more than 1 million doses administered over the past seven days.
“Our providers have been working day and night to administer shots, and we can see the results of their tireless efforts,” Cuomo said. “One in every four New Yorkers has now received at least one dose of the vaccine, and we are continuing our outreach across the state to address hesitancy and accessibility so that we can continue getting shots into people’s arms as quickly as possible.”
While more vaccine distribution sites have cropped up across the Capital Region recently and all appear to have more vaccine appointments available to those who are elegible than earlier in the rollout, the governor reminded residents that the demand for the vaccine is still greater that the supply coming from the federal government. Because of this, he urged patience and advised people not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment. To check eligibility and make an appointment, go to: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov .
In the meantime, it is essential to continue to exercise basic safety protocols, the governor reminded.
“We are working 24/7 to get vaccines into arms quickly, safely and equitably,” Cuomo said “... In the meantime, everyone should continue washing their hands, staying socially distanced and masking up.”
On Friday, 62 New Yorkers state residents died due to COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 39,870 since the pandemic hit last year.
Albany County update
Active cases of coronavirus in Albany County crept up from Friday to Saturday, according to a Saturday news release from Albany County Executive Daniel P. Mccoy.
Albany County reported 64 new positive coronavirus cases Saturday from the day before, bringing the county’s active cases to 483, up from 454 on Friday.
The cases slightly ticked up to 62.4 from 61 the county’s five-day average for new daily positives.
Among the new coronavirus cases, 20 had close contact with positive cases, 41 did not have clear sources of infection at this time, one reported traveling out of state, and two are healthcare workers or residents of congregate settings, the county said.
The number of people under mandatory quarantine decreased to 1,204 from 1,353. So far, 68,657 people have completed quarantine. Of those who completed quarantine, 21,151 of them had tested positive and recovered. That is an increase of 33 recoveries since Friday.
Since the pandemic began, 21,634 COVID -19 cases have been recorded in the county.
There were four new hospitalizations overnight, and there are now 27 county residents hospitalized from the virus. There are currently four patients in ICUS, down from five Friday. There are no new COVID -related deaths to report, and the death toll for Albany County still stands at 365 since the outbreak began.